Lincoln Got A Heart!

We are so excited to share that we got a call at 8:30 this morning that there was a heart offer for Lincoln. Unlike the previous offers...this one is perfect for Lincoln. We don't know much about the donor nor can we get into the details...all we know is that it is a great match! Our hearts are filled with joy and excitement for Lincoln yet our hearts break for the family who lost their child to make this possible. Lincoln is scheduled to go into the OR around 8:30 PM. The surgery will last most of the night and into the morning. We are very very nervous! Please be praying for the surgery and that God orchestrates the whole event beautifully tonight as He has been doing from the start. Also be in prayer for the donor family! We will let you know how things go as soon as things settle down tomorrow! Thank you all so much for everything....We love you all and will talk to you soon. Pray! Pray! Pray! J&K Here are a some pictures that we were going to post today before we found out...enjoy!

OK...OK...We get the hint! We guess you like seeing pictures of Lincoln! January has been kinda hectic and we have been very busy. Lincoln has been doing well...for the most part. Currently, he is sick with Rotavirus (a gastroenteritis). But, before we get into that...let us recap the last few weeks. For the first few weeks since the last update (the 11th), Lincoln had been doing great, as evident by the pictures. Lincoln actually got offered a heart on the 13th. This has been the third offer so far...BUT, the donor was too far away (Hawaii). There would have been some dangerous risks involved with the time factor if he were to take it. So the waiting game continues! That's OK...God knows what's best for Linc and His timing is always perfect. On the 17th, we worked with the Occupational Therapist in trying to give a little "real" food to Lincoln. He ate some rice cereal and applesauce for the first time. This was definitely a shock to him....especially after not even tasting his milk or any other thing for almost 3 months. His trial run went very well! He was able to eat a little bit more on the next day, but because of spitting-up issues and currently being sick we have had to stop for now. On the 22nd, Lincoln's cardiologists all met together to discuss his current condition. They compared his most recent echocardiogram with the one done when he first got here in September. They told us that they think his heart has actually gotten a little better in the squeezing function. They also discussed possibly trying to wean some of his heart medications if things continue to go the way they are going. However, they were very clear that Lincoln was still in need of a new heart but they were encouraged that his heart has gained a little bit of strength back. For the past two weeks, Lincoln has been "spitting up" more. The doctors believe it has nothing to do with his heart but think he has acid reflux. They can't do anything more than give him medication for it, which he has already been on for.......ever. Even though it is getting worse, we just have to work with him...they won't dare surgically correct it until after he gets his heart. Lincoln is doing some new things developmentally. He is reaching for things more and more. He can give you a "high-five." He is talking more and more...and he found his scream again! He loves to smile and show his tongue...why?...who knows? He's just so darn handsome! Now back to the virus. Yesterday, Lincoln was doing a lot more than his normal spit up. He couldn't keep anything down...not even his meds. Last night he spiked a fever and they had to stop his feeds and put him on IV fluids. They tested a bunch of cultures and today the labs came back positive for Rotavirus. This is a flu-like virus in your intestines causing vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Because of this virus, Lincoln feels so sick. When seeing Lincoln, we now have to gown up and take precautions against spreading or contaminating...it's a pain but it's needed. Hopefully, with lots of prayers, this should last only 3-8 days. Because its a virus...they can't give any medications or antibiotics (just Tylenol). Please pray that he won't lose anymore cardiac/pulmonary reserve while battling this illness. One positive thing that has happened in the past 24 hours is that we were able to turn Lincoln's oxygen completely off and get rid of his nasal cannula. He has been satting so well that he doesn't need the extra support and we were able to take one of the bandages off of his face. We've had a lot of visitors which has kept us busy and has helped mix up the day. Thanks for coming and keeping us from getting too bored. We know there are so many of you who have helped out in so many different ways! We wish we could send "Thank you" cards or respond to every email, card or gift we receive...but that would take way too long...there are just too many of you! Just know that we love and thank you all for all of your thoughts, prayers, support and love! Our Journey would be so long and tough to get through without you! We will talk to you all soon...we love you all! J&K

We Love You Grandpa!

Enjoy Jesus and Heaven...you deserve it! We love you so much! We will miss you...but will see you soon!

Happy New Year! We had a great Christmas and we hope all of you did too! We had lots of family and friends come for a visit and Lincoln got spoiled with lots of gifts. The last three weeks have been very busy for us. Josh got sick on Christmas day and spent a week at home in bed followed by Kristen getting sick the next week. She too had to stay home and recuperate...she is still feeling a bit under the weather. It was so hard to stay away from Lincoln for so long but we can't afford to get him sick. It was a hard couple of weeks for us also as we had to say goodbye (for now!) to Lincoln's special friend Holly. As she was waiting for a heart too, her heart got tired and she went to be with Jesus. You may have seen her in some of the previous pictures...she was a bundle of joy. Please pray for her family as they are going through this rough time and missing Holly so much. To cap that week off...Lincoln got very sick. He has spent almost a combined 5 months in the hospital so far and has never been sick! That is a huge accomplishment...PTL! However, when you are in the hospital for so long...you will inevitably get sick. We think Lincoln got Sepsis (a bacterial infection in the blood) and has been on a huge regiment of antibiotics. He is starting to feel better but for a few days it was scary. We are still not sure if what we saw was his heart weakening or a bacterial infection....but continue to pray for a quick recovery anyway. Lincoln's heart remains stable. The last echocardiogram showed no change...which is good. He still has great pulses and blood pressures. He is only requiring a little bit of oxygen and his heart rate, although a little elevated, remains stable. He is still getting his food through his NG tube and is actually starting to get some meat on his bones! His little arms and legs are starting to get chunky. He turns 7 months on the 12th and he is 12 1/2 pounds. He has seemed to have made a full recovery neurologically from his stroke. Fluid balances and keeping his lungs clear seem to be the daily struggle for him and the doctors. Other than the sickness...Lincoln is doing fairly well. Learning to be patient and trying to trust the Lord has been the biggest battle for us. Dealing with the loss of Holly has brought the emotions and fear to the surface. At one point she was doing better than Lincoln, so it's scary to think that Lincoln's heart can get weaker at any point. The daily routine of the hospital and the atmosphere in the PICU is so overwhelming. We know God's ways are higher than our ways and we just have to trust and know that His timing is always perfect. Please continue to pray for a new heart for Lincoln and for us as well. We miss and love you all and can't wait so see you again. Talk to you soon! J&K

Hey Everyone! It's almost Christmas and Lincoln is doing pretty good...PTL! Last night he got his 6 month vaccinations (5 of them) so he is feeling kinda sore. But other than that, things are stable. His last echocardiogram shows no change in the heart function, which is good. He is breathing comfortably, even though his lungs remain a little wet. His color and perfusion are great. His blood oxygen content (saturation level)is a little low these days but the cardiologists are OK with it as long as he looks good and has good pulses and blood pressure. You can pray that his saturation levels come up. Lincoln is doing new things everyday. He loves to watch his legs and feet as he kicks them up and down. He is starting to turn his body to his left side more...the right side is still a little weak. He loves to stick out his tongue...we'd like to think it's his personality but we think he is teething. He is also recognizing the fact that being held is sooooo much better than lying in the crib all day. If you put him down he'll let you know. His Uncle John came to visit him and take his daddy to the Charger's game for a much needed break. Liza, one of Lincoln's favorite nurses loves to hold him more than work we think. She is always telling us to go do something so she can hold him. Continue to be steadfast in your prayers...Lincoln is doing good but there are the occasional bumps in the road that trigger us to worry...and we don't like bumps. We pray for a new heart soon! We hope everyone has a merry merry Christmas! We miss you and love you all very much! J&K

Christmas time is here! For Lincoln's first Christmas, he got to help decorate his and his brother's Christmas tree with mommy and daddy. He even met Santa and got to wear his own Santa hat! We also took a trip out of the PICU into the hall and passed out candy canes...Lincoln loved it!

Lincoln and friends! Lincoln got to go visit his friend Holly, who is in a different PICU on her 1st birthday. He got all dressed up and even brought her a rose. Be praying for Holly as she started having major difficulties a few days after these photos were taken. She too is waiting for a new heart. Here is Lincoln and mommy with one of his favorite nurses, Jen. David and Michelle Aaron and Roger and Jocie Bergman even came for a visit.

Lincoln Is Doing Better!

Hey Everyone...sorry to keep you hanging with lack of news on Lincoln. He is doing good! Everyday since Monday (the day of the stroke) he has been showing signs of improvement. He is starting to fix his eyes on objects and tracking them. He is even smiling more and found the TV over his bed again. His head control is getting better also. It's amazing to see how he is already starting to compensate for the neurological losses and make those connections again...God is so good! Pray for his hearing...we are not sure if he has any hearing loss due to the stroke. He has not been responding normally to sound stimuli like he normally does. Other than that Lincoln is pretty stable. Pictures are coming soon! Talk to you soon. We love you all! J&K